The University of Leeds has once again been placed in the top ten UK universities most targeted by Britain's top employers.
The Graduate Market in 2015 – a study of graduate vacancies and starting salaries at the UK’s one hundred leading employers – also shows that graduate salaries are expected to rise for the second year in a row.
Top UK employers are expected to pay a median of £30,000 for the first time. More than a quarter of leading graduate programmes are likely to pay their new employees starting salaries of more than £35,000.
The number of positions available to graduates is also on the rise for the third year running. The report, conducted by High Fliers Research in December, found that the UK’s top employers planned to increase their graduate recruitment this year by creating 8.1% more entry-level positions than last year – the highest number of graduate opportunities than at any point during the last decade.
Jane Campbell, Head of the Careers Centre at the University of Leeds, said: “This news is really promising for our students and graduates as it offers them increasing opportunities once they have their degree from Leeds.
“Our position amongst the top ten universities targeted the most by the UK’s leading employers is a credit to the calibre of our students and of the work that goes on by staff in the Careers Centre, colleagues in Student Opportunity, Faculties and across the University.
“The Careers Centre helps students from across the University to find employment, while our business start-up programme Spark gives student entrepreneurs the tools and support to build their own businesses.”
The report shows that there is a large number of paid work placements available to students at some of the UK’s top employers. Placements can give invaluable practical experience that will help kick start students’ graduate careers, putting them in a favorable position when it comes to employment.
The report highlights the importance of completing work experience, with many employers warning that graduates are not likely to be successful during the recruitment process if they have no work experience.
Jane Campbell added: “Students at Leeds have the opportunity to undertake a work placement in the public, private and voluntary sectors across the UK and overseas. The Careers Centre, along with faculty placement contacts, can help students secure placements.”
For further information about our services, visit careerweb.leeds.ac.uk.
The biggest growth in vacancies is expected in the public sector, accounting and professional services, banking and finance, retail and the Armed Forces.